Ksiaz Castle

Ksiaz stands on a spur of rock above the Pelcznica gorge, grown over seven centuries from a medieval stronghold into the sprawling residence of the Hochberg family, and it is now the third largest castle in the country. The baroque Maximilian Hall with its mirrors and marble is the showpiece of the interior, though many rooms were stripped and never fully refurnished. Outside, twelve terraces of formal gardens step down the slope towards the trees, best seen from the far side of the gorge. Under the hill run tunnels begun in the 1940s and left unfinished; a marked section is shown on a separate underground route.

History

An earlier fortification here was ruined by the Bohemian forces of King Ottokar II in 1263, and Duke Bolko I the Strict of Świdnica and Jawor built a new castle in 1288-1292 and made it his residence. After Bolko II died childless in 1368 the estates passed to Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia and the castle changed hands many times, until in 1509 Konrad I von Hochberg obtained the castle hill; from the mid-16th century it was rebuilt in lavish Renaissance style (Wikipedia, Książ Castle).

What's there

• The Maximilian Hall - the baroque state room with mirrors, marble and a painted ceiling.
• The terraces - twelve levels of formal garden dropping down the slope below the walls.
• The underground route - a lit section of the unfinished tunnels cut under the rock.
• The view from the gorge path - the whole castle above the trees from the opposite bank.

When to go

May to September for the terraces, with roses at their best in June and July. The underground route runs on timed guided departures with limited places, so book that first. Weekends draw large family crowds. Winter opening is shorter and the gardens are bare, though the interior tour still runs.

Things to know

Many interiors are empty or thinly furnished, and the visit is more corridors and views than furniture. Tickets are sold as several separate routes and the combined cost adds up quickly. The underground section is cold, damp and not for anyone uneasy in confined spaces. Walbrzych itself is a worn post-industrial town with little to detain you.

Nearby

The palm house at Lubiechow, the Owl Mountains and the Church of Peace at Swidnica.

Key facts